During the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency, the Behavioral Health Division is offering some grantees flexibilities that it wouldn't otherwise provide. There are two main categories of flexibilities that BHD is currently authorizing for some grantees:
- Temporary relaxation or waiver of contractual requirements. For example*:
- waiving a requirement that service needs to be provided face-to-face;
- waiving a requirement that a grantee must host a conference;
- waiving a deadline that has become challenging due to COVID-19
- Temporary authorization for grantee to use existing funds for an activity that was not already in the budget or work-plan. For example*:
- purchasing iPads and safety equipment;
- telepresence equipment or software;
- providing transportation of clients;
- providing for the delivery of food or medication to clients
*these are not exhaustive lists
Important reminders (and disclaimers) for grantees
- For many of these flexibilities, we will not need to execute an amendment immediately
- We will, however, have to follow-up with an amendment after the fact
- The specifics related to whether we will need an amendment depend on the specific language in a contract; questions should be routed to your BHD grant manager
- Grantees should not assume that they have been granted a waiver, unless provided in writing
- Grantees still have to track and record all expenditures, including what is spent on COVID-19 related activities
- BHD grants managers have less latitude to authorize flexibility for federally-funded grants; there is strong guidance on SAMHSA's website related to COVID-19 flexibilities, and other guidance for providers.
- Flexibilities are authorized only for the duration of the Peacetime emergency
- Every grant program is subject to individual requirements and nuances. Therefore, please reach out to your grant manager to discuss what flexibilities can be authorized.
Behavioral health resources specific to COVID-19 from the Minnesota Department of Health, including:
- Responder Resources
- Health Care Provider Resources
- Community Resources
- Child and Family Resources
- Mental Illness Support Resources
- Helplines
SAMHSA is providing regular training and technical assistance on matters related to the mental and substance use disorder field as they deal with COVID-19. View the resources.
Bulletin: Interim guidance for the prevention of COVID-19 in DHS-licensed settings with at-risk persons from the Office of Inspector General, Licensing Division
Telehealth-related products from the Great Lakes include the recorded webinars:
